Integrated touch sensor and light apparatus

• US 20030159910A1
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Touchsensor Technologies LLC (Methode Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Caldwell, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,361,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/310
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 57/00 Cabinets, racks or shelf units, characterised by features for adjusting shelves or partitions shelf units with stackable uprights A47B87/00; details of cabinets, racks or shelf units in general A47B96/00; brackets adjustable in themselves A47B96/07
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 96/025 Shelves with moving elements, e.g. movable extensions or link elements cabinets, racks or shelf units enabling enlargement in height, length or depth A47B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/06 with movable or removable shelves or receptacles A47F3/0486 takes precedence; display racks with movable parts A47F5/0081
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/0043 Show shelves shelves in general A47B96/02; brackets or similar shelf-supporting means A47B96/06; advertising or price indication G09F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2325/022 Shelves made of glass or ceramic
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/204 specially adapted to be attached to a shelf or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/962 Capacitive touch switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/9634 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960785 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960795 using organic light emitting devices, e.g. light emitting polymer [OEP] or OLED

Abstract

A touch sensor is physically integrated with a light emitting device to provide a switching device with built-in backlighting. In some embodiments, the touch sensor and the light emitting device share electrical components.

Claims

1. A selectively self-illuminating switching apparatus, comprising:

a touch responsive switching device adapted to provide an electrical response in response to an external stimulus;

a light emitting device electrically coupled to said touch responsive switching device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said touch responsive switching device comprises at least one electrode and wherein said light emitting device is electrically coupled to said at least one electrode.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said touch responsive switching device further comprises at least one active component electrically coupled to said at least one electrode.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said touch responsive switching device further comprises at least one integrated control circuit electrically coupled to said at least one electrode.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said light emitting device further comprises at least one electrode and wherein said at least one electrode of said light emitting device comprises said at least one electrode of said touch responsive switching device.

6. A selectively self-illuminating switching apparatus, comprising:

a substrate;

a touch responsive switching device disposed on said substrate;

said touch responsive switching device adapted to provide an electrical response in response to an external stimulus;

said touch responsive switching device comprising at least one electrode;

a light emitting device disposed on said substrate; and

a dielectric separating said light emitting device from said touch responsive switching device.